“We are hoping that the City Council, led by Christine Quinn, will recognize that concept of essential service and not allow any cuts to the people’s fire protection,” Hagan told WCBS 880 reporter Rich Lamb on Friday.

Hagan says closing a fire company anywhere in New York impacts fire protection everywhere.

“Last year, there were some brush fires in Staten Island and we had companies there from the Bronx,” said Hagan. “More recently, there was a fire in a synagogue on 85th Street and Lexington and the first engine company to get there came from 139th Street.”

The Council has blocked the closing of fire companies in past years.

Quinn has expressed concern about the mayor’s proposed cuts this time around, but in the past has pointed out that no fire company has closed since she has been City Council Speaker.

In the last 50 years, what percentage of NY City and State tax revenue (income, sales, real estate, etc) has been outlaid for NYC public assistance and food stamp programs on an annual basis? In that same time frame, what percentage of NYC residents have received such benefits (also on a year-to-year basis)? And is it all possible that funds for such programs could ever be exhausted (at least for a few months) one day?